This year sees the return of the IHF Men’s and Women’s Beach Handball World Championships, with Asia the destination for just the second time in championship history.

From Tuesday 18 June to Sunday 23 June Pingtan Island in the People’s Republic of China will host the two competitions which run side-by-side.

The 2024 IHF Men’s and Women’s Beach Handball World Championships mark the 20-year anniversary of the first-ever event, held in Egypt in 2004 and the event continues to grow and expand across the world.

In the nine events since its debut, the IHF Beach Handball World Championship has been held in four continents, including Africa (Egypt 2004), South and Central America (Brazil 2006, 2014), Europe (Spain 2008, Turkey 2010, Hungary 2016, Russia 2018, Greece 2022) and Asia (Oman 2012).

“The 2024 IHF Men’s and Women’s Beach Handball World Championships will see Beach Handball in a country that I am sure will amaze us – China,” said IHF Beach Handball Working Group Chair Giampiero Masi to ihf.info.

“With the distance and time difference between us in Europe compared to China it can provide challenges with organising such a big event, but with technology now able to do what until recently was difficult, and all parties sharing a common interest in showing their best, you can work remotely without issues.

“However, it is still important to work together in person and we have already had two inspections; the first last May and the second a few months later in November,” he added.

“During these visits the relationship with the Chinese Handball Association and the Local Organising Committee was consolidated and all the activities necessary for the success of the event were planned.

“Our next inspection will be scheduled for the event draw, which will most likely take place at the end of April or in the first days of May.”

In total, 32 teams (16 men’s and 16 women’s) will qualify through to play at the event in the Chinese province of Fujian, with just five spots to fill, coming from the North America and the Caribbean (NACHC) and South and Central American (SCAHC) qualifiers, which have to take place by the end of March 2024.

The teams qualified so far are:

Men’s competition (11 out of 16 teams confirmed)

• People’s Republic of China (CHN) – Host nation
• Croatia (CRO) – IHF World Champions
• Qatar (QAT) – AHF Asia champions
• Oman (OMA) – AHF Asia runners-up
• Tunisia (TUN) – CAHB Africa champions
• Australia (AUS) – OCHF Oceania champions
• Hungary (HUN) – EHF Europe champions
• Germany (GER) – EHF Europe runners-up
• Denmark (DEN) – EHF Europe third place
• Portugal (POR) – EHF Europe fourth place
• Spain (ESP) – EHF Europe fifth place
• TBC – NACHC North America and the Caribbean champions
• TBC – NACHC North America and the Caribbean runners-up
• TBC – SCAHC South and Central America champions
• TBC – SCAHC South and Central America runners-up
• TBC – SCAHC South and Central America third place*

Women’s competition (12 out of 16 teams confirmed)

• People’s Republic of China (CHN) – Host nation
• Germany (GER) – IHF World Champions
• Vietnam (VIE) – AHF Asia champions
• Philippines (PHI) – AHF Asia runners-up
• Tunisia (TUN) – CAHB Africa champions
• Australia (AUS) – OCHF Oceania champions
• Netherlands (NED) – EHF Europe runners-up**
• Spain (ESP) – EHF Europe third place
• Portugal (POR) – EHF Europe fourth place
• Norway (NOR) – EHF Europe fifth place
• Greece (GRE) – EHF Europe sixth place
• Denmark (DEN) – EHF Europe seventh place***
• TBC – NACHC North America and the Caribbean champions
• TBC – NACHC North America and the Caribbean runners-up
• TBC – SCAHC South and Central America champions
• TBC – SCAHC South and Central America runners-up
   

*extra performance place granted to the SCAHC due to the final ranking at the 2022 IHF Men’s Beach Handball World Championship

**moved up as the highest-ranked European team, replacing Germany, who qualify automatically as current world champions

***extra performance place granted to the EHF due to the final ranking at the 2022 IHF Women’s Beach Handball World Championship

The best Beach Handball players in the world will return to the Asian nation in 2025 with The World Games taking place in the south-central Chinese city of Chengdu from 7 to 12 August.